Northwestern's Pat Fitzgerald Again Drawing Interest from NFL

Northwestern may not have beaten Ohio State in the Big Ten Championship, but there is no doubting the Wildcats' impressive season.

And Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald is drawing NFL interest because of it, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Fitzgerald, 46, has actually drawn interest from the pros for the past half-decade, Schefter reported, but has resisted. In 2019, Fitzgerald's agent even came out and said he wasn't interested in the NFL.

But time has a way of changing things, and sometimes even the most successful coaches like a new challenge. That alone is probably the only reason Fitzgerald would leave Northwestern to coach, say, the Detroit Lions. Well, that and a hefty payday.

Actually, Fitzgerald is viewed as the top choice of the Chicago Bears if the Bears were to move on from Matt Nagy. Fitzgerald lives near the Bears' practice facility, and word is, Bears ownership has been eyeing him for some time.

Right now, it appears Fitzgerald is staying put, leading Northwestern (6-2) to the Citrus Bowl vs. Auburn, and focusing on the here and now. But what comes next for the veteran coach will be worth watching.